Fleet Costs on Road Maintenance
Page 43
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THE annual report of the county surveyor of Somerset, dealing with the maintenance and repair of county roads and bridges in the year ended March 31, 1936, contains some valuable statistics relating to the operation of the county council's 73 mechanical vehicles on this work. Of 35 rollers, only two (Barford and Perkins 6tonners) are petrol propelled, whilst the 33 steamers range from 8-tonners to 12-tonners and are of Aveling and Porter, Fowler, Marshall, and Wallis and Steevens makes.
The total working cost of 30 of the latter fleet was £8,052 (three rollers were in for repair and renewal), and they worked, in the aggregate, for 7,572 days, the average cost per day coming out at 21 is. 3d. The wages bill accounted for more than 50 per cent. of the total working cost, repairs and renewals (for 33 rollers) being next in order, followed closely by ex penditure on fuel. The two petrol rollers worked an aggregate of 210 days for a total cost of 2236, equivalent .to £1 2s. 3d. per day.
During the year it cost 21,686 to operate six Marshall 8-ton tractors, which have now been converted to steam rollers (data relating to them is included under rollers for the periods since the conversions Were effected), other interesting average cost items in respectOf their operation being as follow. :—Per working day, £1 12s. lid.;, per loaded mile, 2s. 8d.; per mile travelled, 1s. 4.Jcl.; per ton carried, is. lid. ; per ton-mile, 6d.
A fleet of 24 light lorries, made up of nine Morris-Commercials (two 80-cwt. and seven 2-ton) and 15 Dennis 2e3tonners, worked for 6,861 days her a total cost of 27,817, the average cost
per day being £1 2s. 9d. These vehicles (excluding three of the Morris-Commercials and including two Dennis machines commissioned in January last and run for three months) travelled an aggregate mileage of
290,330, the average cost per mile being 5.69d.
In addition, the county council operates nine Dennis 6-ton lorries, salient average figures in respect of their operation being as follow :—Per working day, 21 18s. 7d.; pee loaded mile, 1s. id. ; per mile travelled, 6.68d.; per ton carried, 2s. 3de; per ton-mile, 2.85d. Their total cost of working was 25,484.
The department's mechanical-vehicle fleet is completed by two Sentinel 6tanners which are used on quarry work and were operated at an all-in cost of 2454, their average daily cost being 19s. 10d. . •
Some idea of the extent of the activities of the fleet can be gained from the fact that the total mileage of county -roads is 3962, made up. of497 Class 1, 272 Class 2, and 3,193 unclassified. The approved estimated expenditure was 2534,511 for rural delegated roads and £50,857 for urban delegated roads.